# IN-VIVO KNEE LIGAMENT FORCES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 1989 · $191,248

## Abstract

It is widely accepted that the level of activity alters the biology and
biomechanics of normal, repaired, and reconstructed ligaments.
Significant research resources are directed at determining the relation
between in vivo forces and biological response. In order to design
critical in vivo experiments it is necessary to know which activities
cause the ligaments to become loaded, and the factors which control the
magnitude of the ligament forces. Considering the importance of knowledge
about in vivo ligament forces it is surprising how little is known. Such
knowledge would impact the design of ligament substitutes, rehabilitation
following soft tissue injury and reconstruction, and our understanding of
the mechanism controlling homeostasis, healing, and remodeling of
ligaments and grafts.

In this study we examine associations between in vivo ligament forces and
five variables; joint position, quadriceps force, speed of locomotion,
and anterior limb acceleration. Experiments will provide data on forces
in two ligaments, the anterior cruciate and medial collateral, and in the
patellar tendon. In addition we will measure the acceleration of the
tibia along its anterior direction, and the rotational motions of the
tibio-femoral joint. These variables will be measured during walking with
a slow, natural, and fast cadence, trotting, stopping and starting,
turning, lying down and rising up, stepping up and down a rise, and
kicking. Each activity will be repeated at least five times. Analysis of
variance and correlation techniques will be used to test the hypotheses.

A unique feature of this research is the use and further development of a
new device for measuring ligament and tendon forces in vivo. The new
device is implanted within the substance of the tissue, and responds to
the lateral compressive stress produced by the axial stresses the
collagen fibers whose trajectory has been displaced by the device.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159901
- **Project number:** 1R01AR039703-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DZ4YCZ3QSPR5
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD S GROOD
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $191,248
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1989-06-23 → 1992-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159901

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159901, IN-VIVO KNEE LIGAMENT FORCES (1R01AR039703-01A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159901. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*